Pillar III: Fostering citizen engagement for more responsible and democratic R&I

The HORIZON-WIDERA-2026-06-ERA-05 grant opportunity, part of Horizon Europe, focuses on enhancing citizen engagement in research and innovation (R&I) with the goal of fostering responsible and democratic practices within the European Research Area (ERA). This funding call opens on December 10, 2025, and closes on March 12, 2026, and it allows for single-stage applications.

Eligible applicants include universities, research organizations, civil society bodies, and policymakers who can form a consortium comprising at least three independent legal entities from different EU Member States or Associated Countries, with at least two members from EU Member States. The total budget allocated for this initiative is €2,000,000, with an expected contribution of around €1,000,000 per project, funding approximately two projects.

The funding is structured as a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant, allowing for flexible budget allocation and simplifying financial management since expenditures are capped at pre-defined amounts.

This grant specifically targets two thematic areas:
1. Citizen science for enhancing democratic governance aims to build frameworks integrating citizen science into governance, thereby promoting societal involvement in scientific processes.
2. Guiding principles for inclusive engagement focuses on developing common approaches for public participation in R&I, enhancing trust, and ensuring equitable engagement in scientific practices.

Projects funded under this call should contribute to policy development, capacity building, and evidence generation, with expectations for transformative impact across European research ecosystems.

No mandatory co-funding is required, although applicants may choose to secure additional funding sources. Success rates for this call are not explicitly provided, but generally, typical Horizon Europe success rates fall between 15-25%. Evaluation of proposals will be based on established award criteria.

In conclusion, this opportunity emphasizes the importance of citizen involvement in scientific endeavors and seeks to establish a more participatory, trustworthy, and inclusive R&I ecosystem across Europe.

This is a Horizon Europe grant opportunity under the call "Enhancing the European R&I system (HORIZON-WIDERA-2026-06)". The general aim is to connect Research and Innovation (R&I) with citizens and stakeholders, fostering engagement, participation, and science communication to increase trust in science and align R&I with societal values, enhancing the democratic character and impact of science in the European Research Area (ERA).

There are two main areas for applicants to choose from:

Area 1: Citizen science for enhancing democratic governance. This area aims to improve framework conditions and working modalities linking citizen science and democratic governance. Proposals should build on the Mutual Learning Exercise on Citizen Science and other relevant initiatives. Activities should involve research organizations, universities, researchers, innovators, infrastructures, civil society, and policymakers. Expected outcomes include improved framework conditions for integrating citizen science in democratic governance, improved data practices in citizen science initiatives, and increased awareness of citizen science's contributions to societal challenges. Activities include providing evidence-based recommendations on data quality protocols, demonstrating how citizen science can be introduced in institutions, providing evidence of citizen science's impact on policy change, and raising awareness among stakeholders on incentives for research community engagement.

Area 2: Guiding principles for inclusive engagement in R&I. This area aims to develop common ERA approaches for public engagement in R&I and science communication to make the R&I ecosystem more participatory, trustworthy, democratic, open, and responsible. Proposals should build on the Mutual Learning Exercise on Public Engagement in R&I and other relevant initiatives. Target groups include research organizations, universities, researchers, innovators, policymakers, science communicators, public engagement professionals, and the media. Expected outcomes include enhanced institutional capacities for public engagement, common ERA approaches for boosting public engagement, and actionable pathways for strengthening the co-creation of R&I by society. Activities include providing actionable recommendations for sustainable citizen participation, supporting institutional capacity building, establishing an evidence base on the impact of public engagement, offering guidance for ethical guidelines, and proposing pathways to tackle issues of equity and inclusion.

General conditions include admissibility conditions related to proposal page limits and layout, eligible countries (as described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes, with specific provisions for non-EU/non-Associated Countries detailed in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide), and other eligible conditions requiring a consortium of at least three independent legal entities from different Member States or Associated Countries, with at least two established in a Member State. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion criteria are described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Evaluation and award criteria ensure a balanced portfolio covering different ERA policy areas, with grants awarded to highly ranked proposals within each area, provided they pass all thresholds (described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes). Submission and evaluation processes are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual. The indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement is also described in Annex F.

Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021 authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme. Legal and financial setup of the grants are described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes. Specific conditions are described in the specific topic of the Work Programme.

Application and evaluation forms and model grant agreement (MGA) information includes: Application form templates available in the Submission System (Standard application form (HE CSA)), Evaluation form templates (Standard evaluation form (HE CSA)), HE Programme Guide, Lump Sum MGA, Detailed budget table (HE LS), and Guidance: "Lump sums - what do I need to know?".

Additional documents include: HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 1. General Introduction, HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 11. Widening participation and strengthening the European Research Area, HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 15. General Annexes, HE Programme Guide, HE Framework Programme 2021/695, HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764, EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509, Decision authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme, Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment, EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement, Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual, Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions, and Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement.

The budget overview for the year 2026 includes the following topics:

HORIZON-WIDERA-2026-06-ERA-01 - HORIZON-CSA: Budget 6,000,000 EUR, Contributions 2,000,000 to 3,000,000 EUR, Indicative number of grants 2.
HORIZON-WIDERA-2026-06-ERA-02 - HORIZON-CSA: Budget 9,000,000 EUR, Contributions 1,500,000 to 2,000,000 EUR, Indicative number of grants 6.
HORIZON-WIDERA-2026-06-ERA-03 - HORIZON-CSA: Budget 6,000,000 EUR, Contributions around 2,000,000 EUR, Indicative number of grants 3.
HORIZON-WIDERA-2026-06-ERA-04 - HORIZON-CSA: Budget 4,000,000 EUR, Contributions around 2,000,000 EUR, Indicative number of grants 2.
HORIZON-WIDERA-2026-06-ERA-05 - HORIZON-CSA: Budget 2,000,000 EUR, Contributions around 1,000,000 EUR, Indicative number of grants 2.
HORIZON-WIDERA-2026-06-ERA-06 - HORIZON-CSA: Budget 3,000,000 EUR, Contributions around 3,000,000 EUR, Indicative number of grants 1.
HORIZON-WIDERA-2026-06-ERA-07 - HORIZON-CSA: Budget 6,000,000 EUR, Contributions around 6,000,000 EUR, Indicative number of grants 1.
HORIZON-WIDERA-2026-06-ERA-08 - HORIZON-RIA: Budget 16,000,000 EUR, Contributions 1,500,000 to 2,500,000 EUR, Indicative number of grants 8.

The opening date for submission is December 10, 2025, and the deadline is March 12, 2026, at 17:00:00 Brussels time.

This funding opportunity seeks to enhance the connection between research and innovation and the public by promoting citizen engagement and improving science communication. It aims to increase trust in science and ensure that research aligns with societal needs and values. Applicants must choose between two specific areas: citizen science for democratic governance or guiding principles for inclusive engagement in research and innovation. Successful projects will contribute to a more participatory, trustworthy, and democratic research ecosystem within the European Research Area. Consortia applying for this grant must consist of at least three independent legal entities from different Member States or Associated Countries, with at least two of them being from a Member State. The funding is provided as a lump sum, and projects are expected to last up to three years.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types include research performing organisations, funding organisations, universities, researchers, innovators, research infrastructures, civil society organisations, policymakers, science communicators, public engagement professionals, and members of the media. The call targets a wide range of actors involved in research and innovation, science communication, and public engagement.

Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism is a grant, specifically a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant, under the HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions (HORIZON-CSA) and HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (HORIZON-RIA). Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021 authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme.

Consortium Requirement: A consortium of multiple applicants is required. Applications must be submitted by a consortium including participation, as beneficiaries, of at least three independent legal entities. Each entity must be established in a different Member State or Associated Country, and two of the entities must be established in a Member State.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility includes EU Member States and Associated Countries. A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects.

Target Sector: The program targets the following sectors: research and innovation, science communication, citizen engagement, democratic governance, education, and policy making. The focus is on enhancing trust in science, aligning R&I with societal needs, and promoting responsible and democratic research practices.

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned, but the eligibility extends to EU Member States and Associated Countries. The call also mentions that a number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects.

Project Stage: The expected maturity of the project for this opportunity is variable, ranging from development to demonstration. The call supports both Coordination and Support Actions (CSA) and Research and Innovation Actions (RIA), indicating a range of project stages from coordination and networking to more advanced research and innovation activities.

Funding Amount: The funding range varies depending on the specific topic within the call:
HORIZON-WIDERA-2026-06-ERA-01: €2,000,000 to €3,000,000 (2 grants)
HORIZON-WIDERA-2026-06-ERA-02: €1,500,000 to €2,000,000 (6 grants)
HORIZON-WIDERA-2026-06-ERA-03: around €2,000,000 (3 grants)
HORIZON-WIDERA-2026-06-ERA-04: around €2,000,000 (2 grants)
HORIZON-WIDERA-2026-06-ERA-05: around €1,000,000 (2 grants)
HORIZON-WIDERA-2026-06-ERA-06: around €3,000,000 (1 grant)
HORIZON-WIDERA-2026-06-ERA-07: around €6,000,000 (1 grant)
HORIZON-WIDERA-2026-06-ERA-08: €1,500,000 to €2,500,000 (8 grants)

Application Type: The application type is an open call with a single-stage submission process.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a lump sum grant.

Application Stages: Applicants have to pass through one stage to succeed in obtaining this opportunity.

Success Rates: The success rates are variable depending on the topic, as indicated by the number of grants for each topic.

Co-funding Requirement: The information does not explicitly state whether co-funding is required.

Summary: This Horizon Europe call, part of the WIDERA program, aims to enhance the European Research Area (ERA) by fostering citizen engagement in research and innovation (R&I). The call focuses on increasing trust in science, aligning R&I with societal values, and promoting democratic research practices. It offers funding for Coordination and Support Actions (CSA) and Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) with a lump sum grant mechanism. Applicants must form a consortium of at least three independent legal entities from different EU Member States or Associated Countries. The call addresses two main areas: improving citizen science for democratic governance and establishing guiding principles for inclusive engagement in R&I. Projects should engage a wide range of stakeholders, promote gender equality, and ensure broad geographical coverage and accessibility. The call provides various resources and support services, including partner search tools, national contact points, and IT helpdesks, to assist applicants in preparing and submitting their proposals. The overall goal is to create a more participatory, trustworthy, and responsible R&I ecosystem in Europe.